Control system for closure means



-2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 7, 1950 c. F. TEICHMANN CONTROL SYSTEM FOR CLOSURE MEANS Filed May 30, 1945 March 7, 1950 c. F. TEICHMANN 2,499,889

CONTROL SYSTEM FOR cLosuRE MEANS Filed May so, 1945 2 sheets-sheet 2 A7' OPNEY,

Patented Mar. 7, 1950 CONTROL SYSTEM FOR OLOSURE MEANS Charles F. Teichmann, Mount Vernon, N. Y., as-

signor to Texaco Development Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application May 30, 1945, Serial No. 596,795

3 Claims. l

This invention deals with automatic actuating mechanisms, and more specifically relates to the actuation of closure mechanisms by means of penetrative radiation.

rPhe object of the present invention is to provide means for the actuation of closure and locking mechanisms through the use of penetrative radiation. It contemplates the actuation of mechanisms for opening and closing doors of either the hinged or sliding type. It also contemplates the actuation of locking mechanisms, such for example as the locking mechanisms of bank vaults.

The use of radiant energy for the actuation of closure mechanisms is -well known. Both visible light and invisible light have been employed for this purpose by directing a beam of visible or invisible light to fall on a ph-otocell or photoelectric tube, commonly known as an electric eye. The photocell or photoelectric tube converts the radiant energy of the beam of light into electric current, which in turn is employed to actuate mechanisms for 4opening and closing doors and for other similar applications. Photocells and photoelectric tubes are sensitive to radiant energy of the infra-red, visible light, and ultra-violet regions of the spectrum.

There are many applications where the socalled electric eye functions satisfactorily. In the actuation of closure mechanisms the light source and the photocell usually are placed in such a manner that a person or object passing through the beam of light will cause an interruption in the flow of electric current from the photocell, thereby actuating a relay which closes the power circuit of the closure mechanism and causes a door to open or close as the case may be. This arrangement has two serious limitations. First, it functions in a nondiscriminatory manner and any person, object, or animal interrupting the beam of light will cause the closure mechanism to operate. Second, the light source must be left on continuously during the period over which the device is intended to function. Failure of the light source, as by a burned out element, will cause the closure mechanism to function.

Another method by which the electric eye type of device may be utilized is to locate the electric eye in a fixed position and employ a movable light source. Thus, using the ordinary garage door as an example, the electric eye may be located in a manner such that the beam of light from the head lights of the car entering the driveway will fall on the electric eye and cause the closure mechanism to function. This type of arrange- (Cl. Z50-83.6)

ment also is not discriminatory and anyone may cause the device to operate simply by directing a beam of light at the electric eye. Furthermore, although it is possible to shield the photoelectric element from sunlight this is not always satisfactory and in most instances an arrangement of this type will not function properly during daylight hours.

It also is known to employ radio waves for actuating various types of mechanisms. For eX- ample it is known to install an oscillator on an automobile for generating high frequency radio waves. These waves are picked up by a radio receiving apparatus and converted into electric current for actuating a mechanism which will open the door of a garage and permit the driver to enter the garage with-out getting out of the car to open the doors. This is merely an example of the use of radio waves for actuating driving or control mechanisms. It is well known that they also have been used for operating airplanes, ships, and land vehicles by remote control as well as foi numerous other applications of a similar nature. The use of radio waves for such purposes also has certain disadvantages. For example, they are non-discriminatory except as to wave length and any transmitter operating on the wave length to which the receiver is tuned will cause the operating mechanism to function. Thus if one man driving into his driveway turns on his transmitter to open his garage doors he would also open the doors of a neighbors garage in the next block if both of their receivers happened to be tuned to the same wave length.

In accordance with the present invention I employ penetrative radiation as the actuating medium. As used in the term penetrative radiation is intended to mean both electromagnetic radiation, such as gamma rays and X-rays, and high-speed particles of matter, such as those emitted from radioactive materials and those emitted from substances subjected to radioactive emanations, for example, -particles or helium atom nuclei, -particles or electrons, neutrons, protons or hydrogen atom nuclei, positrons or positive electrons and mesotrons. The term penetrative radiation may be also dened as radiation which will pass through a one-thousandth of an inch thickness of iron without appreciable loss in intensity. The preferred source of penetrative radiation is natural or artificially radioactive substances. For example natural radioactive materials such as radium, uranium, thorium, actinium, their ores, and their salts may be employed. Articially radioactive substances such as radioactive sodium also may be employed. The radioactive materials may be used either in their pure state or in dilute mixtures with inert substances, for example as in the luminescent radium paint used on the dials of clocks and watches. It is contemplated that the source of radiation may be of any quantity and may be either iixed or stationary, but in order to provide for discriminatory actuation of the closure mechanism it is preferred that the amount of radiation be correlated with the actuating 4circuit so that the closure mechanism will not function unless the detector is exposed to a denite quantity' of penetrative radiation.

A detector sensitive to penetrative radiation is employed for converting the `energy of the penetrative radiation into electrical energy for actuating the closure mechanism. This detector may be either an ionization chamber, a proportional counter, a Geiger-.Muller type oi counter, or any other suitable device depending on the particular type of penetrative radiation employed. For best results, however, I prefer to use a highly sensitive radiation detector of the type describedin U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,397,071 to D. G. C. Hare, issued March 19, 1946. The electric current or pulses of current created in the detector may be amplified by means of any suitable type of amplifier and the amplied current employed to actuate a relay or an electronic control device, thereby activating the power circuit of the mechanism Which operates the door, lock, or closure and causing the mechanism to function.

Any type of electrical, hydraulic, or other suit-v able mechanism, or any combination thereof may be employed for operation of the door, lock or closure. For example, I may choose to use an electric motor geared as a driver, or an electrically heated vapor pressure motor, or I may prefer to employ an electromagnetic solenoid and a hydraulic system, depending on the specific type of operation and conditions involved. l

For a further understanding of the principles of my invention reference is made to the accompanying drawings, it being understood that these drawings are illustrative of a few applications of my invention and I do not consider my invention to be restricted to the specic embodiments herein illustrated and described.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of an arrangement for opening hinged type doors.v

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of an arrangement for actuating locking mechanisms.

Figure 3 is a iront View of receptacle or keyway a shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a front view of key member't shown in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation on the line 5-5 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, a radioactive source I0, such as radium. is enclosed in a container I2, formed of any suitable material, such as steel, which will permit penetrative radiation to pass through its walls and which may be portable or may be fastened to an automobile or other movable object. An absorptive shield I4, composed of sufficient thickness of a sub stance, such as lead, lies between the'wallof the container I2, and the radioactive source Ill, said shield being continuous except for an opening I6 onl one side which permits the'passage of penetrative radiation. In order to cause the door opening mechanism to function, radiation'frcm the radioactivev source l0, is directed to fall on the detector I8, Where bombardment of the elements of detector I8 creates electric current or pulses of current. This current or pulses of current is amplified by means of a suitable amplier 20 and the amplified current is employed to operate a minimum current relay 22 and a maximum current relay 24 connected in series. The minimum current relay 22 is set to make contact at a deiinite predetermined amount of current, for example micro-amperes, and the maximum current relay 24 is set to break contact at a definite predetermined amount of current, for example `12`5 microam'peres. Both relays are connected in series in both the detector circuit and the power circuit which operates solenoid valve 26, so that current is supplied to solenoid valve 26 only when both relays are closed. This is the case only when the amplified current from the detector is within the specific minimum and maximum limits for which relays 22 and 24 are set to operate.

Solenoid valve 26 forms part of a hydraulic type door opening mechanism which consists of a low pressure hydraulic fluid reservoir 28, a pump 3E! operated by an electric motor 32, a high pressure hydraulic iiuid reservoir 34, an automatic pressure control device 3S, for maintaining the desired pressure in the `high pressure hydraulic iiuid reservoir 34, the solenoid valve 26, a check valve 38, -a hydraulic plunger device 4l) operated bythe hydraulic ii'uid, and a solenoid release valve 42 for releasing the hydraulic iiuid from the plunger device 40 back to the low .pressure reservoir 23. One end voi the casing 44 of the hydraulic plunger vdevice 40 is pivotally attached to a stationary object, .such as the wall of the garage, by means 4of support'48, and the plunger or sliding element 46 is connected to a hinged door 50 in such a manner that movement of the plunger from the normal position causes the door 50 to open., Av release buttonr52, is provided for operating the solenoid release valve 42 in order to release the fluid from the plunger device 4i] and allow it to return to its normal position,

thereby closing the door. A transformer 54 may be employed to reduce the main line voltage for the current supplied tothe solenoid release valve 42.

The per'ation of the embodiment villustrated in Figure 1 ris` asrfollows: penetrative radiation from the portable radiation'source I0 is directed so aste-fall on detector l8,-which is responsive to said penetr-ativ'e radiation 'and functions to convert the penetrative radiation Yinto electrical energy. The electric current or pulses of our rent created -in the elements -off detector I8 are amplified toa Jpredetermined degree by means of amplier 2U, Minimum current relay 22 and maximum current relay 24 are connected in series with the output -from'amplier 2E)v and in series with the `power supply for the door opening mechanism in such a manner that power for operating the door opening mechanism is supplied only when `the amount of current output from the amplifier is of sufficient magnitude to operate? the minimum current relay and is not of 'sufficient magnitude to operate the maximum current relay. lWhen power is supplied to the door operating mechanism through the above- 'mentioned relay arrangement solenoid valve 2B opens and permits the now of hydraulic iluid from high pressure reservoir 34 to the hydraulic plunger ydevice 4U. 'The iiuidforces the plunger or sliding-element 46 ofthe plunger device from its normal position Vcausing door lSil) to open. In

order to close the door the uid is released from the hydraulic plunger device by pushing button 52 to open solenoid release valve 42. The released uid nows to low pressure reservoir 28. Pump 30, driven by electric motor 32, is provided to pump the fluid from the low pressure reservoir 28 to the high pressure reservoir 34. The uid pressure in the high pressure reservoir is controlled by automatic pressure control valve 36.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 2, a portable key member 60 is comprised of a cylindrical member 62 having a handle B4 attached thereto to facilitate handling and manipulation. Cylindrical member 62 is provided with a linear slot 66 and two holes 68 and 'l0 drilled radially in such a manner that they meet at the axis of the cylinder. A radioactive substance 12 placed at the point of juncture of holes 68 and 'I0 provides a source of penetrative radiation. Plugs 'i4 and 16, which are permeable to said penetrative radiation, are placed in the openings of the holes at the surface of the cylinder. Except for the area covering the openings oi holes 68 and l0 the surface of cylindrical member 62 is covered by a shield 18 of a material impenetrable by the penetrative radiation. Cylindrical member 62 is adapted to conform to the contour of receptacle or keyway 80 which is afiixed to and supported by wall 82 and which has a linear projection 94 adapted to cooperate with slot t6. A more sensitive detector 86 and a less sensitive detector 88 are positioned in the path of the penetrative radiation. The more sensitive detector 86 is connected through an ampliier 90 to operate an on-and-off type relay 92 which is set to make contact at a denite specified current intensity and close the circuit which supplies power to mechanism 94 which operates lock 96. The less sensitive detector 80 is connected through an ampliiier 98 to operate a circuit breaker type relay H00. Both relay 92 and relay 100 are designed to respectively make and break contact at substantially the same current intensity. Detector S8, however, is made less sensitive to the penetrative radiation by a thin shield |02 of material which reduces the amount of radiation passing into the detector. Relay |00, operated by the less sensitive detector 88, is connected into the output circuit of the more sensitive detector 06 between amplifier 90 and relay 92 and controls the now of current operating relay 92. If the amplied current supplied to relay 00 exceeds that required to trip this relay, the output circuit of the more sensitive detector 86 will be opened and relay 92 will not be actuated. Under these conditions no current will be supplied to the mechanism 94 which operates lock 96.

The operation of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2 is as follows: the portable key member 69 is inserted into keyway 80 and thereby penetrative radiation emanating from radioactive substance 12 is directed by means of openings 68 and 'i0 so as to fall on detectors 86 and 93 which are responsive to said penetrative radiation. When the amount of electrical energy created in the elements of detector 86 is above a definite predetermined value relay 92 is actuated, thereby closing the power circuit of the locking mechanism and causing it to function. Detector 98, which is shielded to make it less sensitive to the penetrative radiation, is connected to relay 100 in such a manner that when the amount of penetrative radiation exceeds a predetermined value the electrical energy created in the detector, when amplified, is sufficient to cause relay |00 to be actuated. Actuation of relay H00 interrupts the output circuit of detector 86 and prevents the actuation of relay 92. Therefore, when the amount of penetrative radiation is in excess of a denite predetermined value the locking mechanism will not function. The operation of the device is dependent, therefore, upon the amount of penetrative radiation emanating from the radioactive source in the key. If the amount of penetrative radiation is less than that required to actuate relay 92 or greater than that required to actuate relay |05 the locking mechanism will not operate. The difference between the lower and upper limits of the amount of penetrative radiation which will cause the locking to operate is dependent upon the amount of penetrative radiation absorbed by shield 102 of detector 88 and may be varied at will by varying the material of construction or the thickness of shield E02.

In addition to discriminatory action based on the intensity of the penetrative radiation, the shape oi the key and keyway may be varied to permit further discrimination. For example, the location, size, and cross sectional shape of the linear slot 6E and projection 84 may be varied and a multiplicity of conforming slots and projections may be used. The cross sectional shape of the cylindrical member 62 may be varied by making it an oval, rectangle, hexagon or any other shape desired. The length and thickness of the key and keyway also may be varied as desired. In addition the geometrical location of the key and detectors may be varied by altering the direction of holes 68 and '50. Obviously other methods of obtaining discrimination may be employed without departing from the scope of this invention.

Figure 3 is a front View of receptacle 36 showing linear projection 84.

Figure l is a front elevation or" key member 66 showing the position of slot 66 and holes 68 and l0.

Figure 5 shows a geometric arrangement for the key member 69 and receptacle 80 with respect to detectors 86 and 89.

As hereinbefore stated this invention is not limited to the exemplary illustrations given above and numerous modifications falling within the scope of this invention are evident.

Any source of penetrative radiation may be employed as previously mentioned. This source may be contained in any suitable container and may be located on a vehicle or other movable object or may be portable so as to be carried around by hand. In the case of the above example for opening garage doors the source may be xed to a portion of the automobile, for example the fender, hub cap, etc. If the invention is adapted to unlocking or opening bank vaults as illustrated by Figure 2, it is preferable that the source be portable.

The detector may be located in any convenient position where it can be exposed to the penetrative radiation. Since penetrative radiation is employed as the actuating medium the present device has the advantage of permitting complete concealment of the component parts if so desired. For actuation of garage doors the detector` may be hidden from view by placing it in the ground under the driveway, in the wall of the garage, or in any object, such as a post or a house, which the car will pass in going to the garage. It also may be placed in open view on a support on the side of the driveway or otherwise located as desired. For actuating locking mechanisms the detector may be placed in the door itself or in a position remote from the door and connected to the locking mechanism by suitable electrical connections.

YAny suitable system for obtaining discriminatory action may be employed. For example, in addition to the methods described in the foregoing examples a contact type current indicator may be used to measure the output from the detector in such a manner that a relay will be actuated when the current supplied to the indicator is equal to that required to make contact` in the indicator.

The closure or locking mechanism may be any of the conventional types normally used or any type of mechanism capable of adaptation for the' operation of closure or locking mechanisms.

In addition to the actuation of closure and locking mechanisms the device described herein, and obvious modifications'and extensions thereof, can be employed for numerous other purposes, for example, for actuating safety devices on machinery, for actuating railway block signals, for automatic iioor leveling of elevators, for automatic selection of Various wave lengths in radio communications, and for any other application where an operatingmechanism can be controlled and actuated by means of penetrative radiation.

Obviously many modifications and Variations of theinvention, as hereinbefore set forth, may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and therefore only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A system for operating doors and the like, comprising a radioactive substance emanating a deiinite predetermined quantity of penetrative radiation, a portable container for said radioactive substance, a detector responsive to said radiation and capable-of converting said radiation into electrical energy, an amplifier connected to the outputof said detector and adapted to produce a denite predetermined degree of amplication, a minimum current relay and a maximum current relay connectedv in series to the output of said amplifier, .a door opening and closing mechanism, and a power supply for operating said mechanism, said power supply being controlled by said relays and 4adapted to operate said mechanism only when a definite predetermined amount of electric current is supplied to said relays from said amplifier.

2. Means for operating closures and the like in response to penetrative radiation of a type capable of passing through l/moo iron Without appreciable loss in intensity, said radiation being of a magnitude Within a predetermined range, comprising a radiation detector responsive to said radiation, means responsive to the output of said detector only within said predetermined range, closure operating means, and means connecting said responsive means and said closure operating means to operate said closure operating means when said detector is actuated by said penetrative radiation.

3. Means for operating closures and the like in response to penetrative radiation of a predetermined range in magnitude comprising a detector responsive to said radiation and capable of converting said radiation into electrical energy, `an amplifier connected to the output of said detector and adapted to produce a denite :predetermined degree of amplification, a minimum current relay and a maximum current relay connected in series to the output of said amplifier, a closure operating mechanism, and a power supply for operating said mechanism, said power supplyvbeing controlled by said relays and adapted to operate said mechanism only when a definite amount of electric current is supplied to said relays from said amplifier.

CHARLES F. TEICHMANN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,957,509 Vallen May 8, 1934 2,036,072 Mutscheller Mar. 31, 1936 2,041,079 Lyle May 19, 1936 2,095,688 Balbentine Oct.v l2, 1937 2,303,688 Fearon Dec. 1, 1942 2,323,128 Hare June 29, 1943 2,456,233 `Wolf Dec. 14,1948

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 832,674 France July 4, 1938 

